European farmers eyeing ever bigger profits

Last year, with prices collapsing amid a global recession, the continent’s streets and highways were packed with tractors and trucks representing some of Europe’s roughly 2 million agricultural enterprises. The European Commission, and the EU’s 27 national governments, promptly reacted with moves to support prices.

Dec 21, 2010

From the Wall Street Journal:

There’s a reason European farmers often take to the streets: It works.

Last year, with prices collapsing amid a global recession, the continent’s streets and highways were packed with tractors and trucks representing some of Europe’s roughly two million agricultural enterprises. The European Commission, and the EU’s 27 national governments, promptly reacted with moves to support prices.

And this year, as Eurostat, the EU’s statistical office, announced, EU farm incomes per worker are up 12.3% after falling 10.7% in 2009.

One reason is that every year there are simply fewer Europeans working the land. Encouraged by the European Commission, the EU agricultural industry is consolidating.